Fairways and Forehands 2014 Top 25 WTA and LPGA Year In Review: #8 Agnieszka Radwanska and Karrie Webb

Agnieszka Radwanska (click to enlarge)

Like 2013, this year I will do a countdown of the top money list leaders from both the WTA and LPGA. Last year I did the top 30, but this year I will do the top 25. Note that as of this post, the retired Li Na has been removed from the WTA website money list rankings, but I will include her here. Thus, some WTA players will be off by one position on my list compared to the WTA website list. Also, Hyo Joo Kim is not on my LPGA list due to not being a member this year. I’m certain she will be on the list in the future. For the WTA, singles, doubles and mixed are combined for this top 25. Number 8 on this money list for each tour are Agnieszka Radwanska (WTA) and Karrie Webb (LPGA).

AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA (Poland)

2014 Official WTA Prize Money: $3,195,411

WTA Awards: Fan Favorite Singles Player, Favorite Shot of the Year

Best Results: WINNER (1) Rogers Cup; RUNNER-UP (1) BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells; SF (5) Australian Open, WTA Finals, Qatar Total Open, BNP Paribas Katowice Open, SF Mutua Madrid Open; QF (5) Sony Open, Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Internazionali BNL d’Italia, Western & Southern Open, Kia Korean Open; Team RUNNER-UP (1) Hopman Cup (Team Poland)

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter

Maybe the biggest off-season news (other than the WTA’s women’s sports record $525 million media deal with PERFORM) so far has been Agnieszka Radwanska continuing the trend of the super-coach by hiring Martina Navratilova onto her team. Much like when Andy Murray hired Ivan Lendl, I don’t think Navratilova will drastically change Aga’s playing style so much as she will benefit Radwanska’s mental approach and preparation for the Majors. That’s really all that’s left for Aga. Once again, 2014 was another terrific year, winning Rogers Cup and finishing runner-up at Indian Wells. Add in 5 semis and 5 quarters…it’s Aga being Aga, one of the very best players on tour. But for all of her career success, the missing achievement is a Major title. Since Roland Garros 2012, Radwanska has been seeded in the top 5 of every Major championship. It is time for her to bring in somebody like Martina to help get her over the hump. Of course, nothing is a guarantee just because Navratilova is on her team. But I sure like her chances a whole lot better now.

Karrie Webb (click to enlarge)

KARRIE WEBB (Australia)

2014 Official LPGA Prize Money: $1,069,540

Best Results: WINNER (2) ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, JTBC Founders Cup; 2nd Evian Championship, 3rd HSBC Women’s Champions, T4 Mizuno Classic, T8 ShopRite LPGA Classic

Social Media: Instagram, Twitter

The only active Hall of Famer on this countdown started her year with a shocking DQ at the RACV Ladies Masters (ALPG/LET), but boy did she bounce back from that mistake. Karrie Webb will turn the page on the big 4-0 this December, but you wouldn’t know it from her continued brilliant play on the LPGA Tour. She made a statement early in 2014, throwing down the gauntlet for all the youngsters dominating the tour, winning 2 of the first 5 tournaments and finishing 3rd in another. Nowhere was this more evident than her win at the JTBC Founders Cup. She trailed 17-year old Rookie of the Year Lydia Ko by 6 shots going into Sunday. Webb turned the clock back to vintage years with a blistering 9-under 63 on the final day to eclipse Ko, Mirim Lee, Amy Yang, Azahara Munoz and Player of the Year Stacy Lewis by 1 shot. It was her 41st career LPGA victory, by far the most of any active player. In fact, Karrie has as many LPGA wins as the next two active players, Se Ri Pak (25) and Cristie Kerr (16), put together. I see no reason to doubt she can add to her title count in 2015 and beyond.